Chiikawa Reaches 13.9 Billion Yen, Takes Japan’s 2026 Box Office Lead
The film held first place in its seventh weekend and now ranks 23rd on Japan’s all-time box office chart.
Chiikawa’s first anime film has sold 9.60 million tickets and earned 13.9 billion yen in Japan, overtaking the 29th Detective Conan film as the country’s biggest release of 2026.
Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island (Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu) has become Japan’s highest-grossing film of 2026. Kōgyō Tsūshin reported Monday that the first anime film adapting Nagano’s Chiikawa manga reached 13.9 billion yen (about US$89.1 million) from 9.60 million tickets.
The film topped Japan’s box office in its seventh weekend, covering Friday through Sunday. It sold 928,000 tickets and brought in 1.415 billion yen (about US$9.07 million) during that period.
Its total overtook the 13.7 billion yen (about US$87.8 million) earned by Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway (Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi). That film is the franchise’s 29th installment.
Kōgyō Tsūshin initially gave Chiikawa’s total as 13.8 billion yen. It later revised the figure to 13.9 billion yen on its all-time rankings.
Chiikawa now stands 23rd on Japan’s all-time box office chart, ahead of:
- Jujutsu Kaisen 0, in 24th place.
- Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine, in 25th place.
- Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway, in 27th place.
The film opened July 24 and took first place in its debut weekend. Its opening-day earnings totaled 990 million yen (about US$6.05 million).
Across its first three days, it sold 1,508,500 tickets and earned 2,240,333,500 yen (about US$13.70 million).
4DX screenings began Saturday. The film also announced four types of charm figures for its fourth round of moviegoer gifts, starting that day.
One-day-only cheering screenings are scheduled for September 11. Penlight screenings will follow on September 23.
The film adapts a manga storyline posted on X, formerly Twitter, from March through November 2023. Readers nicknamed it the “Siren Arc” or “Island Arc.”
The story opens as Chiikawa and Hachiware relax before a rabbit suddenly appears with a flyer on its face. Hachiware reads its invitation to a special island.
The flyer promises generous rewards for easy island hunts and essentially free sweet and spicy food, including limited-edition island ramen and sweets. Tempted by those offers, Chiikawa and friends decide to visit.
Rakko finds the flyer suspicious and accompanies them. The story follows what awaits the group when they reach the island.
The film’s creative and production credits include:
- Nagano: original story and screenplay, with supervision of the film.
- Kei Oikawa: director at Cygames Pictures; credits include three Uma Musume Pretty Derby seasons, Hinamatsuri, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!, and My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax.
- QTORY inc.: production management.
- TOHO: distribution.
Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin via ANN
